WWE: Edge, the Draft, and My Ideal Rosters for Raw and Smackdown

Welcome to The Hardcore Revolution Column No. 11...

The WWE has had a hot-bed of speculation these past few days, with WWE superstar Edge declaring he was told by doctors that he needs to retire, because he is losing feeling in his arms due to his spinal fusion surgery eight years ago.

With Edge leaving, there is now a spot open on the main event scene in the WWE.  This means that someone could get that push they have been waiting for.

Or this could mean someone might return...

Whatever happens, this is a topic that needs to be discussed in detail, as well as a slew of other topics.

Topic No. 1:  Edge's Spot

*Note this topic contains a SPOILER about Smackdown*

Christian seems to be the likely candidate for Edge's spot, with it now being Christian vs Alberto Del Rio in a ladder match. The winner will be crowned the new World Heavyweight Champion, since Edge has vacated the title due to retirement.

But to most fans Christian is already on the top tier, so this means that maybe another person will be able to take his spot.

I personally want to see Ezekiel Jackson take it. He has the size and the ability to be a top-tier guy and was even given the right to be the last ECW Champion.

A lot of other people are crying out for Wade Barrett. I agree he needs to eventually be brought back into the main event scene, but he has the ability to raise a dead title into the prestigious thing it once was.

The overall theme of Smackdown fans is that maybe a Raw Superstar should be brought over. With Big Show, Kane, and Mysterio all past their primes, even though Kane was World Heavyweight Champion for most of last year, the WWE universe wants to see some new blood in the title chase.

Cody Rhodes could be a viable option. His new deranged demeanor is a great way to get his foot into the door of the main event scene.

Also Jack Swagger could make his way back into the scene after he is done with the Lawler/Cole shtick.

There are a lot of deserving people to be given the spot and I for one hope the WWE really takes a stride and does something new and different.

Topic No. 2:  Returning Superstars?

The Rock has come back to wrestle John Cena at WrestleMania 28...a whole year away.  This leaves a whole lot of room for other former WWE Superstars to return.

The two names I have heard are Batista and Chris Jericho. Though a return from either will take away face-time for some of the newer stars, I think that it would be amazing to see either return with a new character.

Sites like wrestlezone.com and the PWtorch have all said that many within the WWE think it's only a matter of time until Batista returns to the WWE, after pursuing movies and MMA.

Also with the WWE being more entertainment based, Batista could find a nice staring role there in a WWE Studios flick.

I don't really care if Batista comes back, but Jericho is another story.

Hopefully I don't mark out too much over him, but I believe Jericho is the best wrestler in the world. Some might be flashier, or bigger, or even better at submissions, but no one has the work ethic that this man has.

There are many Bleacher Report articles devoted to the news that Jericho could possibly have a deal sitting on a desk in Connecticut just waiting for his signature.

Fanhouse has an interview with Jericho where he talks about that contract and how it's ready to be signed whenever he is ready to come back.

Right now Jericho is on Dancing with the Stars and his band Fozzy already has summer dates set for an upcoming tour.

Neither man is really likely to come back anytime soon to fill in the void left by Edge, but they both could be back within the next year.

Topic No. 3:  Title Unification

The way I see it, having two main championships is getting old.

Yes, it makes it easier to get Superstars involved, but look at where the WWE used to be and how great it used to be when there were only a few titles.

Just hear me out before you begin berating me for idiocy and what-not.

With Edge having to vacate the championship, it makes a perfect opportunity for a unification match at the next PPV after Extreme Rules, or better yet, Night of Champions.

This would leave room to make my next point more viable.

But until I get to that point, I think that if there is just one WWE Championship, and not the WWE and WHC, the title will seem more credible and the Superstars who win it will seem more credible.

This would create more feuds and even make for some great triple threat/fatal-four-ways.

Topic No. 4:  Strengthening Divisions

The Midcard Division has some great competitors, but the championships have no meaning to the fans anymore.

Everything in the WWE revolves around the main title.

Why not make it about the other titles too?

If two dominate Superstars formed together to create an amazing tag-team, it could bring new life to the tag division, especially if a few were top Superstars who can't get their feet in the doors with other titles.

Big Show and Kane going after the Tag-Team Titles again, or maybe even Mysterio and Sin Cara going for the gold.

Who wouldn't want to see John Morrison and Dolph Ziggler feuding over the US Championship with Sheamus and Daniel Bryan mucking around?

Think about it.  It makes sense in the long run to develop these kids into the top-tier guys they are going to become.

Topic No. 5:  Managers?

I know we have wrestlers who have better mic skills these days, but where have all of the managers gone? Why not bring out an old legend and have them lead a few guys into the spotlight?

Have Shawn Michaels come back as Daniel Bryan's mentor.

Or Stone Cold teach a youngin' what it takes to get to where they need to go, how about the Tough Enough winner, hmmmm...?

We have enforcers and we have Diva accompaniments, but no managers.

There's no Classy Freddy Blassy, no Sensational Sherri, no Bobby Heenan and definitely no Jimmy Hart.

Where have all the managers gone? They added even more fanfare.

The only true manager in the WWE would be Vickie Guerrero and that's just sad to have one real manager in a whole company.

Topic No. 6:  The NEW "WWE" Branding

No more World Wrestling Entertainment...

I think it's a good move by the WWE. A little sad, but they're not spitting on a tradition, they are moving with the times.

Wrestling is about kayfabe, secrets and the business.

Entertainment on the other hand, is about social medium, stock markets, money and showcasing talent.

Vince McMahon is a business man and like other businesses, like the YMCA, he realized that it was time to re-brand the company.

The YMCA, is rebranding itself "The Y".  Much like how the WWE is no longer considering itself wrestling.

But the WWE is no longer wrestling. Sure, Raw and Smackdown are wrestling shows, but they have revolved around entertainment since the mid 1990's when we got the "F" out.

We as fans should be grateful that the WWE is changing with our times and not staying stuck in a rut like some other organizations.

Sure there will always be downsides that will burn a few people along the way, but that's just life.

Topic No. 7: The WWE Draft

If there even is a draft this year, I believe that it should be a huge mix up.

I think we need to see big stars go to Smackdown and fresh young blood go to Raw.

This is what I would do: I would have John Cena, John Morrison, Evan Bourne, Mark Henry, Yoshi Tatsu and maybe even Ted Dibiase Jr. all get drafted to Smackdown. With Raw receiving in return: Cody Rhodes, Chavo Guerrero, Goldust, Kofi Kingston and Jack Swagger.

With a few big changes, like Smackdown spicing up their WHC division and a few fan favorites coming to Raw, we could see a big upswing in the WWE.

How about The Bizarre One taking on Sheamus for his US Championship or better yet, The Miz!

Or Cody Rhodes coming and forging an alliance with The Miz, only to turn his back on The Miz and steal his title.

John Cena vs Alberto Del Rio could be a very entertaining scenario and even if you throw Christian into the mix, it would spice it up.

Edge leaving left a really big whole, but the WWE can do some great things to even out the playing field for both brands if they have a draft.

And Finally...

Topic No. 8:  My Ideal Raw and Smackdown Brand Changes and Ratings!!!

*Note this is all fictitious. This is how I believe the WWE could be most successful.*

RAW Championships:

WWE Championship—The Miz (c)
—CM Punk
—Randy Orton
—Daniel Bryan
—Goldust
—Cody Rhodes
—Dolph Ziggler
—R-Truth

United States Championship—Sheamus (c)
—Zack Ryder
—Chavo Guerrero
—Kofi Kingston
—Jack Swagger
—Skip Sheffield
—Sin Cara

Smackdown Championships:

World Heavyweight Championship—(Vacant)
—Christian
—Alberto Del Rio
—Ezekiel Jackson
—John Cena
—Ted Dibiase Jr.
—John Morrison

Intercontinental Championship—Wad Barrett (c)
—Rey Mysterio
—Brodus Clay
—Drew McIntyre
—Evan Bourne
—Chris Masters
—Yoshi Tatsu
—Tyler Reks

Both Brand Championships:

Unified Tag Team Championship—The Corre (Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater) (c)
—The Nexus (Husky Harris and Michael McGuillicuty
—DZP (Zack Ryder and Primo)
—Big Show and Kane
—Sin Cara and Rey Mysterio
—The Hart Dynasty (David Hart Smith and Tyson Kidd)
—The Uso Brothers (Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso)
—Kofi Kingston and Mark Henry
—Santino Marrela and Vladimir Kozlov

Unified Divas Championship—Eve (c)
—Gail Kim
—Maryse
—Natalya
—Tamina
—Beth Phoenix
—Michelle McCool
—Melina
—Layla
—Kelly Kelly
—Kaitlyn
—Alicia Fox
—Brie and Nikki Bella
—Rosa Mendes

These competitors are stuck in single competitor/tag team competitor Limbo:
—David Otunga
—Mason Ryan
—Alex Riley
—Michael Tarver
—Curt Hawkins
—Trent Barretta
—JTG

And don't ask where HHH and Taker are, I don't think either will be around until they meet again.

Let me know what you think of all of my ideas. Let me know if I am wrong or you just think I am plain crazy.

I would love to hear what you have to say about all of these issues.

As always...

Let the Revolution be known and Long Live the Extreme.